Pride and Prejudice, directed by Joe Wright

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For those that enjoy romantic costume dramas set in England, the 2005 film version of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice starring Kiera Knightley and Mathew MacFadyen is the perfect movie to watch on a rainy day while sitting in a comfy chair, sipping hot tea, with a plate of biscuits nearby. Director Joe Wright’s and screen writer Deborah Moggach’s film “Pride and Prejudice” brings a romanticized slant to the world of the Bennet’s where the main dilemma facing the family is what to do with five daughters when their estate is entailed to a male relation. With no material security for the future, the only course open to the Bennet sisters is to marry and to marry well. Elizabeth, the second eldest daughter rebels against this idea and vows not to marry without love. When she meets Mr. Darcy, she must overcome her prideful reactions to the slights her family receives from him in order to realize there is more to Mr. Darcy than his purse. Mr. Darcy progresses through a similar struggle as he overcomes his own notions about the Bennet family and puts aside class expectations to allow himself to love Elizabeth. Despite the departures that occur from Jane Austen’s original text, this film is well worth watching for its sweet romance. The cinematography is beautiful, the music delightful and the story retold in such a way that brings both wistful sighs and smiles.

The English architecture and interior spaces are featured brilliantly with the film’s location choices. The Bennet’s home named Longbourn is set on the estate and park of real-life Groombridge Place in Kent (IMDB). This film interprets the Bennet residence with a homey atmosphere. Open doors and windows connect nature and muddy farm activities to the indoors. The house is ...

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...ought when she conspires with Mr. Collins to marry one of her daughters then hatches a scheme to send Jane out in the rain to visit the sister of the eligible Mr. Bingley in hopes that Jane will be invited to stay. Her constant managing of these types of match making opportunities brings some lighthearted humor to the film.

Overall this movie is well worth watching as an inexpensive trip into the heart of England where the viewer can fall in love with the landscape, architecture, and music while enjoying a period romance at the same time. Through humor and romantic tangles, Joe Wright maintains Austen’s theme that first impressions are not always correct. Sometimes when one puts aside pride and pre-conceived prejudices about another person, a kindred spirit can unexpectedly be found. A cynic of romance may even be convinced that such an ending is really possible.

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